A Few Months Later…
The lively atmosphere of the tavern echoed with laughter, clinking glasses, and cheerful conversations.
Several tables had been pushed together as Chaos Tenno and his friends celebrated another peaceful day.
For once, there were no world-ending threats.
No dimensional invaders.
No cosmic disasters.
Just friends enjoying each other's company.
Chaos Tenno raised his glass high into the air.
Chaos Tenno:
"Cheers, guys!"
Everyone immediately raised their drinks.
"CHEERS!"
The tavern erupted with noise.
Finn Zhao leaned back in his chair with a grin.
Finn Zhao:
"Best day of our lives, isn't that right, guys?"
Hydra Nova:
"Depends. I still think the day we didn't die fighting that Void Emperor was pretty good."
Finn Zhao:
"That's because your standards are terrible."
Laughter spread across the table.
Vorthax chuckled before glancing toward Chaos Tenno.
Vorthax:
"Heh… yeah."
He crossed his arms.
"Now that you and Rowena have a baby, what's his name?"
A smirk appeared on his face.
Chaos Tenno took a sip of his drink before answering.
Chaos Tenno:
"Ye Xian."
The others nodded.
Finn Zhao:
"Not bad."
Hydra Nova:
"Sounds cool."
Vorthax:
"Young Lord Ye Xian…"
He rubbed his chin dramatically.
"I can already feel future protagonist energy."
Chaos Tenno:
"Please don't jinx my son."
Everyone laughed again.
Chaos Tenno shook his head.
Chaos Tenno:
"Anyway, don't go trying too hard with your wives."
The group looked at him.
Chaos Tenno:
"You don't need to buy them every treasure in existence."
"You guys are already great husbands."
For a moment, silence fell over the table.
Vorthax suddenly sniffled.
Vorthax:
"C-Can I hug you, Chaos Tenno?"
Without even a second of hesitation—
Chaos Tenno:
"No."
Vorthax:
"…"
A few seconds passed.
Then Vorthax stood up.
Vorthax:
"CHAOS TENNOOOO!!"
He lunged across the table.
Chaos Tenno:
"Get away from me."
Vorthax:
"YOU'RE MY BROTHER!"
Chaos Tenno:
"You're drunk."
Vorthax:
"THAT DOESN'T MATTER!"
The entire tavern burst into laughter.
Hydra Nova nearly fell out of his chair.
Finn Zhao was wiping tears from his eyes.
Even Chaos Tenno couldn't stop himself from smiling.
It was a peaceful night.
A rare one.
Later…
Chaos Tenno walked through the quiet streets toward home.
The moonlight illuminated the path ahead.
For a moment, he simply enjoyed the silence.
No responsibilities.
No battles.
No meetings.
Just home.
Eventually he arrived at his front door.
Click.
The door opened.
Chaos Tenno:
"I'm home."
Immediately—
Baby Xian:
"PA—!"
A tiny blur shot toward him.
Chaos Tenno instinctively caught the child before he could tumble face-first onto the floor.
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Baby Xian:
"PA!"
The baby laughed happily.
Rowena Graves:
"Welcome back."
Chaos Tenno smiled.
Chaos Tenno:
"You're still awake?"
Rowena Graves:
"Of course."
She folded her arms.
Rowena Graves:
"Why did you go drinking when you can't even get drunk?"
Chaos Tenno:
"Me and the guys were talking."
"And celebrating."
Rowena Graves:
"Celebrating what?"
Chaos Tenno
"Apparently everyone has wives now."
Rowena blinked.
Then her eyes widened.
Rowena Graves:
"Really?"
A bright smile appeared on her face.
Rowena Graves:
"That's wonderful!"
"I should congratulate them sometime."
Chaos Tenno:
"I'm sure they'd appreciate that."
He glanced down at Xian.
The child was still overflowing with energy.
Chaos Tenno:
"Looks like he's still awake."
Rowena Graves:
"He took a long nap earlier."
Chaos Tenno:
"That explains everything."
The baby immediately grabbed his father's face.
Baby Xian:
"PA!"
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Rowena Graves:
"He missed you."
Chaos Tenno quietly accepted defeat.
As he carried Xian through the house, he noticed two familiar figures standing nearby.
Xellion and Ashen.
Both looked unusually serious.
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Chaos Tenno:
"What's wrong with them?"
Rowena immediately looked nervous.
Rowena Graves:
"Well…"
Xellion:
"What do you mean we shouldn't teach swordsmanship to the Young Lord?"
Ashen:
"Because he's a baby!"
Xellion
"And?"
Ashen:
"He can't even walk yet!"
Xellion:
"So we'll carry him while teaching him."
Ashen:
"That's not how learning works!"
Xellion:
"Nonsense."
Ashen
"In this world, good grades matter too!"
Xellion:
"Grades won't help him defeat dragons."
Ashen:
"What dragons?!"
Chaos Tenno slowly rubbed his forehead.
Chaos Tenno:
"You two…"
Both immediately turned toward him.
Chaos Tenno:
"Sword skills are fine."
"Studies are fine."
"But maybe wait until he takes his first step?"
In Chaos Tennos mind.
"Don't they meant the fight with Holy Astoria?"
Silence.
Xellion:
"…"
Ashen:
"…"
Chaos Tenno:
"Just a suggestion."
Rowena stepped beside him.
Rowena Graves:
"Dear."
Chaos Tenno:
"Hm?"
Rowena Graves
"Why don't you come home early more often?"
Chaos Tenno:
"Why?"
Rowena Graves:
"At least until he takes his first step."
Chaos Tenno glanced away.
Chaos Tenno:
"…Alright."
Meanwhile…
Far away.
Within the Xentris Universe.
A familiar presence waited.
Chaos Tenno arrived instantly.
The moment he saw her expression, his heart sank.
Chaos Tenno:
"Mother?"
Serena Tenno:
"…"
Chaos Tenno:
"What's wrong?"
Serena hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
Serena Tenno:
"Your grandfather."
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Serena Tenno:
"Minato Tenno is in critical condition."
Inside the hospital room…
Machines quietly beeped.
The room was peaceful.
Almost too peaceful.
A gentle breeze entered through the open window.
Swoosh.
Chaos Tenno appeared beside the bed.
Minato Tenno slowly opened his eyes.
Despite his weakened state, he smiled.
He pointed toward Chaos Tenno's mask.
Understanding immediately, Chaos Tenno removed it.
Minato Tenno:
"It's good to see you again…"
"My grandson…"
Chaos Tenno:
"It's good to see you too."
Minato chuckled weakly.
Minato Tenno:
"I've been waiting for you."
Chaos Tenno:
"If you want me to cure—"
Minato Tenno:
"No."
Chaos Tenno fell silent.
Minato Tenno:
"You already gave me ten extra years."
His eyes softened.
Minato Tenno:
"I've lived long enough."
"I have no regrets."
The old man looked out the window.
Minato Tenno:
"But I do have one favor."
Chaos Tenno:
"What is it?"
Minato Tenno:
"Show me."
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Minato Tenno:
"The memories."
"The days when you saved our universe."
"I want to see them one last time."
Chaos Tenno remained silent.
Chaos Tenno:
"Those memories aren't all pleasant."
Minato Tenno:
"Maybe."
A smile appeared.
Minato Tenno:
"But they're ours."
After a long pause—
Chaos Tenno nodded.
Golden light filled the room.
His hand gently touched his grandfather's.
Memories began flowing.
The shattered worlds.
The endless wars.
The desperate people.
The rebuilding of civilization.
The rise of the Nineteenth Emperor.
The countless lives saved.
The hope restored.
Everything.
Minato watched it all.
Every moment.
Every sacrifice.
Every victory.
Tears slowly flowed down his face.
Minato Tenno:
"Ah…"
"So this is what happened…"
His smile widened.
Minato Tenno:
"I was there…"
Chaos Tenno:
"You were."
Minato Tenno:
"And you carried all of this…"
Chaos Tenno said nothing.
The old man looked toward the sunlight.
Minato Tenno:
"What a wonderful life…"
His breathing grew weaker.
Minato Tenno:
"With heroes like you…"
"I can rest peacefully…"
The sunlight illuminated his face.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
Then—
Silence.
Minato Tenno passed away with a smile.
Chaos Tenno gently closed his grandfather's eyes.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
Chaos Tenno:
"Rest in peace."
"You were a hero too."
A few minutes later—
Walking his way home—
BUZZZZ.
His phone vibrated.
Chaos Tenno:
"Hello?"
Immediately a panicked voice answered.
Rowena Graves:
"DEAR!"
Chaos Tenno frowned.
Chaos Tenno:
"What's wrong?"
Rowena Graves:
"X-Xian is—"
Chaos Tenno:
"What happened?"
Rowena Graves:
"HE'S FLYING!"
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Rowena Graves:
"He's flying around the house!"
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
A memory suddenly appeared.
Hydra Nova:
"Honestly, since it's your kid, I thought he'd start running the moment he was born."
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Maybe Hydra had a point.
Rowena Graves:
"What do I do?!"
Chaos Tenno:
"It's fine."
He speaks calmly.
Rowena Graves:
"Huh?"
She said in surprise.
Chaos Tenno:
"I'll teach him. Step by step."
"So don't even worry about it."
Rowena Graves:
"You can fly too?"
Chaos Tenno:
"…Did I never mention that?"
Winter followed autumn.
Spring followed winter.
Life continued moving forward.
Every ending created another beginning.
Or Arises from the end.
And at the Tenno household—
Chaos.
Absolute chaos.
Rowena Graves:
"XIAN! NOT THAT!"
CRASH!
CLANG!
SMASH!
Chaos Tenno stared silently through the phone.
Chaos Tenno:
"…"
Chaos Tenno:
"Dear."
Rowena Graves:
"PLEASE COME HOME!"
Chaos Tenno
"I'll be home soon."
Xellion
"Since the Young Lord can fly, he should begin aerial combat training."
Ashen
"What are you talking about?!"
"This means he'll become an excellent pilot when he grows up!"
Xellion
"A swordsman."
Ashen
"A pilot."
Xellion
"A swordsman."
Ashen
"A pilot."
Baby Xian
"WEEEEEE!"
A tiny figure zoomed across the ceiling.
Rowena Graves
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!"
Chaos Tenno ended the call.
For the first time in a very long time…
The man who conquered universes felt fear.
Chaos Tenno:
"…Maybe Grandpa had the easier battle."
And for the first time that day—
He laughed.
As he began making his way home.
To his wife.
To his son.
And to the chaos waiting for him there.
End of Chapter